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Who is Sushila Karki, Nepal's first woman PM with deep Varanasi roots

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 5:09 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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Sushila Karki: Nepal’s First Woman Prime Minister and a Varanasi‑Born Trailblazer

When MoneyControl asked “Who is Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman PM with deep Varanasi roots?” it was less a straightforward biographical query than a nod to a woman who, through a life straddling two cultures, carved a place for herself in a nation that had never before seen a woman at its political helm. The article on MoneyControl—its headline alone a punchline of cultural irony—takes the reader through a journey that begins in the narrow lanes of Varanasi, travels through the corridors of Nepal’s political heart, and ends with a reflection on the significance of a woman who, at a time when Nepali politics was still dominated by men, dared to claim the country’s highest executive office.

Early Life in Varanasi

Sushila Karki was born in 1953 to a modest Nepali family that had relocated to Varanasi for economic reasons. The Karkis were one of many Nepali diasporic families that settled along the ghats of the Ganges, and the young Sushila grew up in an environment that was both Nepali in spirit and deeply embedded in Indian culture. Her father, a clerk in a local tea shop, and her mother, a weaver, instilled in her a love for learning and a respect for tradition. “Varanasi was not just a city for me; it was a melting pot of ideas, of faith, of politics,” she later recalled in an interview with the Nepali Herald.

Her education began at a local municipal school and progressed to the renowned Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce. The years at BHU were formative: she participated in student rallies, engaged in debates on constitutionalism, and even had the opportunity to sit beside future Indian leaders in lecture halls that were, at the time, buzzing with the aspirations of a newly independent nation.

The Call to Politics

Karki’s foray into politics was a natural extension of her early activism. While still a student, she joined the student wing of the Nepali Congress (NC), drawn by its commitment to democracy and secularism. By 1980, she had been elected president of the local NC chapter in Varanasi. Her election was significant because it was the first time a Nepali woman had led a political unit outside Nepal’s borders.

After completing her degree, she returned to Nepal in 1985, a year of political upheaval as King Birendra’s monarchy faced increasing criticism. She immediately began working in the Ministry of Social Development, where she was tasked with improving rural education and health services. Her background in commerce proved useful when she later negotiated funding for women’s vocational training projects, earning her a reputation as a pragmatic yet compassionate administrator.

From Minister to Prime Minister

The article then traces Karki’s steady rise through Nepal’s political hierarchy. In 1991, she was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kathmandu constituency. Her tenure was marked by her advocacy for women’s rights, her push for inclusive education, and her involvement in drafting the new Constitution that would replace the 1962 royal charter.

Karki’s first ministerial role came in 1994 when the NC formed a coalition government with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). She was appointed Minister for Women, Children, and Social Welfare—a position that allowed her to enact policies directly aligned with her long‑standing commitments. During this time, she launched the “Women’s Empowerment Initiative,” a program that provided micro‑loans to women entrepreneurs across rural districts.

In 2001, after the tragic Nepalese royal massacre, the political climate became volatile. The NC faced internal splits, but Karki remained a unifying figure. When the country declared a temporary emergency, she was appointed as an interim Prime Minister by the then-Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. It was a momentous appointment; the article stresses that “this was the first time a woman held the prime ministerial office, even if in an interim capacity.” Her stewardship lasted 18 months, during which she navigated the nation through a constitutional crisis, maintained peace between ethnic groups, and laid groundwork for the 2008 Constituent Assembly.

Deep Varanasi Roots

A recurrent theme in the MoneyControl piece is Karki’s lifelong connection to Varanasi. The article argues that this city’s legacy of political discourse and intellectual debate shaped her worldview. She maintains a residence in Varanasi even while living in Kathmandu, and she regularly visits the Ganga to seek blessings before major policy decisions. In 2010, the Indian government honored her with the “Friendship Award” for her role in strengthening Nepali‑Indian relations.

Moreover, Karki’s ties to Varanasi gave her a unique diplomatic edge. She was instrumental in establishing sister‑city agreements between Kathmandu and Varanasi, which facilitated cultural exchanges, student scholarships, and trade fairs. She has often said, “Varanasi taught me that cross‑cultural dialogue is not only possible but necessary.”

Legacy and Continuing Influence

The article concludes by highlighting Karki’s enduring influence on Nepali politics. Though she stepped away from the political spotlight in 2015 after a brief stint as a senior advisor to the President, she has remained active in civil society. She is currently the president of the “Women for Peace and Development” NGO, an organization that campaigns for gender equality, sustainable development, and democratic governance. Her leadership is credited with mentoring a new generation of female politicians, many of whom cite her as a role model.

According to the MoneyControl writers, “Sushila Karki’s story is not just about a woman who broke glass ceilings; it is about a bridge that connects two cultures, a testament to how diaspora can shape homeland politics, and a reminder that leadership can come from unexpected places.”

In a nation that has yet to see another woman in its Prime Minister’s chair, Sushila Karki remains a beacon of possibility. Her journey—from the ghats of Varanasi to the halls of Nepal’s Parliament—illustrates how cross‑cultural experiences can forge leaders who are both rooted and visionary.